Mary Ann John

Mary Ann M. John, age 86, passed away peacefully surrounded by her husband and children at her residence in Augusta, GA on Thursday, July 19, 2018.

The family will receive friends and family members from 6 to 8 PM on Wednesday evening July 25, 2018 at Livingston-Butler-Volland Funeral Home at 1225 North Elm Ave. in Hastings, NE.  Funeral services are on Thursday, July 26, 2018 at 10 AM at First St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hastings, NE.  Interment will be at Parkview Cemetery in Hastings.  The family request that memorial gifts be for the benefit of First St. Paul’s Lutheran Church at 501 Burlington Ave., Hastings NE 68901.

Mary Ann was born March 24, 1932 in Hastings, NE the eldest of three daughters of Alice (Johnson) Kottwitz and Fred Kottwitz.  Her education was in the Hastings School System graduating from Hastings High School with the Class of 1949.  She married Weir L. John of Hastings on May 25, 1949, and recently celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary with friends and family in Augusta, GA.  To this union were born two children, Susan K Gaffney (Phil) of Augusta, GA and Steven Mark John (Cynthia) of Ukiah, CA.

Mary Ann was employed by Nash Finch Company (Jack & Jill Grocery) retiring in 1997 with over 40 years of dedicated accounting and receptionist service.  Her welcoming personality, unique smile, and dedicated service continues to this day to be remembered by so many who had occasion to work with and meet Mary Ann…..a superb Nash Finch ambassador.

The hobbies Mary Ann enjoyed most were rooted in family activities, her Lutheran faith at First St. Paul’s Church in Hastings, retirement travels to CA and GA to be with her children and grandchildren.  She also truly enjoyed reading contemporary entertainment magazines.  She loved to follow the Hollywood stars and the gossip of the day about them.  One of Mary Ann’s more recent life highlights was traveling to California with her husband in August 2017 to participate in the wedding of her granddaughter Elizabeth John to Joey Silver.

She was preceded in death by her parents Alice and Fred Kottwitz, sister Bonnie Lubken, and brother-in-law Hubert E. John.

Mary Ann is survived by her husband Weir, sister Janice Kottwitz Lukas, daughter Susan and husband Phil, son Steven and wife Cynthia, grandchildren Philip J. Gaffney of Atlanta, GA, Matthew B. Gaffney of Athens, GA, Elizabeth John Silver (Joey) of Arcata, CA and great grandson Braxton J. Silver of Arcata, CA.